Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of university-industry research collaboration through the development of a new process model. Design/methodology/approach -A literature review was carried out on collaborative partnering and supporting factors namely social capital and the role of knowledge. Empirical research involved a series of 32 structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, with subsequent grouping and conceptualisation allowing common themes to be identified and a new process model to be proposed. Findings -The study finds that there is a lack of integrative frameworks for the management of research collaborations. Through building on the suggested best practice described in the paper, application of the model to the management of an engineering research programme has allowed the benefits of this approach as well as some of the underlying issues to be explored in detail.Research limitations/implications -The research focused on university-industry research collaborations and although it may be applicable to other forms of collaborations, e.g. industry-to-industry, there could be features that are particular to the area under investigation. Practical implications -A model has been proposed, which is a logical methodology that can be utilised by practitioners from both academia and industry in order to improve the process of research collaboration and facilitate more effective transfer of knowledge. Originality/value -The model builds on previous literature on alliance and collaboration management but crucially is based on an innovative new process-based methodology, which provides practitioners with a "route map" of how to develop and manage research collaborations. The model uses a holistic approach to collaboration through capturing process, knowledge and social elements.

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to identify how the management of university institutes can be improved through adoption of an integrated performance measurement system based on the Balanced Scorecard.Design/methodology/approachThrough building on literature studies and management best practice, formulation of the performance measurement system was explored. The Balanced Scorecard solution was then designed and implemented at a university institute. Benefits and outcomes are discussed through reflective analysis of the case study investigation.FindingsThe study identified how the development of scorecard reports that include economic and non‐economic measures can improve the operational management of a university institute through providing tangible benefits to stakeholders.Research limitations/implicationsThe scorecard was investigated at an industry‐supported university institute and so features of the scorecard design and implementation may be less relevant to other types of organisations.Practical implicationsThis research paper provides details on how the scorecard has been modified to provide an accessible and durable measurement system. The paper includes specific guidance for practitioners who are considering implementing the scorecard.Social implicationsThe role of intellectual capital and soft measures as systemic determinants of performance is discussed and this is viewed in terms of university‐industry collaborations.Originality/valueA comprehensive literature review underpins a two‐year research project involving strategy mapping, design and implementation of the Balanced Scorecard. Advice on modification of the scorecard and provision of representative data and information from reports serve to further the scorecard research agenda.

PurposeOver the last few decades, a large number of research studies have been carried out on project manager's leadership competencies. However, systematic literature reviews are still scarce in the project management literature. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to conduct a systematic literature review on project manager's leadership competencies based on published empirical research studies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology to synthesize research in a rigorous manner and a total of 1,780 articles were identified in the first step and a final sample of 60 research studies were synthesized.FindingsSynthesis of the findings in this SLR on project manager's leadership competencies revealed: (a) there is a lack of categorization or ranking of leadership competencies; (b) 20 research studies (46%) were conducted with sample sizes of less than 100; (c) only a few research studies (<10%) used interview data for analysis; and (d) none of the research studies reported adoption of a triangulation method.Research limitations/implicationsThis study synthesized clusters of leadership competencies and prioritized project manager's leadership competencies as “high priority”, “moderate priority” and “low priority”. We recommend a sample size between 200 and 300 to produce sophisticated results and enhance the credibility, generalizability and validity of clusters and priorities of project manager's leadership competencies through future research.Originality/valueFuture research studies are suggested to consider systematic literature review combined with face-to-face and group interview in addition to employing triangulation methods. Besides highlighting implications for practitioners, this SLR has advanced the understanding of how to conduct systematic literature reviews in a robust manner.

The rationale behind using heterocyclic compounds [1], particularly nitrogen heterocycles, as higher energy insensitive high explosives is discussed, including the potential advantages compared with carbocyclic compounds. The types of functional groups used to impart energy to heterocyclic nuclei, whilst maintaining insensitivity, and methodologies for their introduction, are covered. The latter include nitration (by conventional and clean synthetic methods), amination, and oxidation (on ring heteroatoms and of exocyclic amino groups). Strategies for maximising the energetic content of a given heterocyclic nucleus are also examined. The syntheses of specific examples at QinetiQ are described, based on the following nuclei: pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, quinoxaline, quinazoline, pteridine and purine. Strategies for obtaining the desired amino-nitro derivatives and their heterocyclic N-oxides are outlined. Optimisation of the synthetic routes for several candidates is discussed. The physical, explosive and thermal properties of the more successful candidates are described, with suggestions for their potential application in military stores.

No abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to investigate how to measure the performance of research and technology collaborations and to subsequently improve the management of university‐industry collaborative projects.Design/methodology/approachLiterature studies have been carried out on the performance measurement of collaborative relationships and this has been augmented by research involving interviews with 32 relevant stakeholders.FindingsThe study has allowed a new performance measurement tool to be developed that is based on a conceptual model of research collaboration as a transformation process. This process incorporates the key findings from the literature and empirical studies, namely the need for technical, project, business and social inputs as well as knowledge and sustainability process outputs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on university‐industry collaborations and although the performance tool may be applied to other forms of collaboration, there may be elements specific to the application under investigation.Practical implicationsThe new performance measurement tool can be used by academic faculty and professional services staff within universities to improve the management of research collaborations as well as by industry to help manage collaborations with universities. Both types of organisation can use the tool to help inform business and technical strategy.Originality/valueThe performance tool incorporates key requirements identified in the literature together with the findings from a consultation with a diverse group of highly experienced stakeholders; therefore, it provides a rigorous assessment of the issues and requirements for the management of research collaborations.

The United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to deliver an improved future for people, planet and profit. However, they have not gained the required traction at the business and project levels. This article explores how engineers rate and use the SDGs at the organisational and project levels. It adopts the Realist Evaluation’s Context–Mechanism–Outcomes model to critically evaluate practitioners’ views on using SDGs to measure business and project success. The study addresses the thematic areas of sustainability and business models through the theoretical lens of Creating Shared Value and the Triple Bottom Line. A survey of 325 engineers indicated four primary shortfalls for measuring SDGs on infrastructure projects, namely (1) leadership, (2) tools and methods, (3) engineers’ business skills in measuring SDG impact and (4) how project success is too narrowly defined as outputs (such as time, cost and scope) and not outcomes (longer-term local impacts and stakeholder value). The research study is of value to researchers developing business models that address the SDGs and also practitioners in the construction industry who seek to link their investment decisions to the broader outcomes of people, planet and profit through the UN SDGs.

In this novel nitration method dinitrogen pentoxide (N205) in an inert solvent is used as the nitrating agent, thereby removing the need for strong acids as the reaction medium. The N205 cleaves heteroatom-silicon bonds, in silylamines and silyl ethers respectively, to yield the desired energetic groupings (nitramines or nitrate esters respectively) without liberation of acids which would occur with conventional substrates (amines or alcohols). These nitrodesilylation reactions proceed cleanly and in good yield, and the scope of the reaction is illustrated by 29 examples, some of which produce high energy compounds, notably plasticisers and an energetic polymer precursor. These reactions are therefore potentially clean nitrations for the manufacture of energetic compounds which will minimise the impact of this activity on the environment in the future.